Frequently Asked Questions

Franke uses nothing but the best when it comes to top quality stainless steel. Their sinks vary anywhere from 16 gauge, which is commercial gauge, to 20 gauge sinks. Franke has a line of Professional Series sinks at 16 gauge giving you the highest quality stainless steel used in commercial kitchens.

Remove the sink from the packaging. Place the sink face down on a flat disposable surface. Use the provided diamond hole saw to drill the faucet hole in the desired location (already pre-scored on the bottom of the sink). Never attempt to drill the top side of the sinks. Minimal force is required to drill the hole. When the hole saw is through the sink, remove and discard the center of the hole. Please note the diamond hole saw is sharp and will cut into the surface below the sink. Always use a piece of scrap below the face of the sink when performing this task. Always use the proper protective equipment including safety glasses and a dust mask.

WARNING: Failure to follow instructions may result in irreparable damage to the sink ledge! 

Stainless steel sinks should be punched prior to purchase. Order the sink requesting the extra hole. Drilling holes may dent a stainless steel sink and cause a brown discoloration around the hole due to heat caused by friction.

Bowl configuration really is a personal preference. If you tend to use a lot of large platters, roasters or pots, a combination bowl or single sink might be a good choice. An equal sized double bowl is a good wash and rinse model.

No, Franke sinks are available in the finest stainless steel, fireclay, and granite. These materials are all non-porous.

Yes. In fact, some stainless steel sinks look bright and shiny at first, but rust or corrode in time. All stainless steel sinks are not equal in quality and material content. Look for the best combination of chromium and nickel for superior corrosion resistance and durability.

Very. The thicker the steel, the less susceptible it is to denting, bowing and noise transmission from pots and pans hitting the metal surface.

The thickness, called "gauge", can be determined by its number. The lower the number, the thicker the steel. Most sinks come in 18 or 20 gauge steel. The 18 gauge is the thicker of the two and more than ample thickness for residential sinks.

Look for a rich, deep, satin-smooth finish rather than a surface gloss. The luster comes from machine and hand-finishing operations, which enable the sink to keep its beauty for years - without cracks, chips, rust or stains. Many feel that the look actually improves with age, taking on a soft patina glow.

The 3 basic measurements for comparing sink sizes are:

• Depth – distance from the top of the rim to the bottom of the sink next to the drain
• Taper – inward slope of each side of the sink from rim to bottom
• Radius – measure of the bowl’s corners & bottoms where the sides and bottom mee

The deeper the bowl, the straighter the slope and the tighter (smaller) the radius, the more capacity there is in the sink.

No. They trap water causing iron deposits and surface discoloration.

The gauge is the thickness of the stainless steel. An easy rule of thumb is, the lower the number of the gauge, the thicker and better the stainless steel. Therefore, 18 gauge is better than 20 gauge.

As with most things, your stainless steel sink WILL scratch with use. However, over time as the sink ages, scratches will become less apparent and in fact blend into the surface.

If water is left standing anywhere on your stainless steel sink, it will evaporate and leave a film (spots) on the surface of the steel. This film can be removed with regular dish soap and water and a soft cloth. For removing heavier residue, you may use a mild solution of vinegar and water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

Sink tip: Regularly rinse and towel dry your sink after use to keep its surface exposed to oxygen. (Oxygen reacts with chromium in the steel to form a strong, highly protective chrome oxide film on the surface of your sink. It is this film that makes stainless resistant to corrosion and gives it a remarkably long life.)

Stainless steel stands up to high hot or cold temperatures, along with sudden temperature changes. That means you can drain hot boiling pasta in your sink, followed with a rinse of ice cold water, without causing any damage to your sink's surface.

Franke believes in having a sink for every style home. For this reason they incorporate color and texture into their line of sinks. Aside from stainless steel, Franke produces sinks made of Granite and Fireclay.

A topmount or drop in sink has a lip that folds over the countertop and is therefore resting on top of the countertop cutout. Fasteners securely mount an undermount sink underneath the countertop so that a polished edge of granite, marble, etc. is exposed above the sink. An undermount sink cutout requires more polishing and installation labor than a topmount sink cutout and is therefore a more expensive option.

The undercoating on your sink absorbs sound, protects against condensation and helps maintain sink water temperature.

Yes. Any sink that has a 3 1/2“ waste (90mm) is capable of having a waste disposal unit connected. For Franke Fireclay sinks an Extended Flange is available for Continuous Feed models. 

For more information on Franke warranty click here. 

To enable us to process a guarantee claim, please ensure you provide us with the following information to avoid any unnecessary delay:

• Full Contact Name, Address and Telephone Number
• Proof of Purchase (please attach to email)
• Photographs showing full product and detail shots showing problem

Please complete the relevant form with this information here. 

Normally at your local retailer or showroom, however if you have difficulty, swatches exist for colour matching. For this service contact our Consumer Care team at, click here.

Franke Stainless Steel Cleaner is recommended for regular maintenance of stainless steel sinks. This cleaner is easy to apply; just spread a small amount on a damp cloth, and distribute it throughout the sink with minor circular motions. Leave to work for a few moments and rinse with clean water. Afterwards, polish with a dry cloth - a Microfiber Cloth is ideal. 

Your sink is made from high quality 18/10 chrome nickel steel. That means it’s metallurgically incapable of rusting or corroding in normal household conditions. If rust and corrosion problems do occur, tiny iron particles deposited on the surface will be the culprit. These either come from the water supply or are left behind by wire scouring pads or utensils. It’s essential to clean off these filings and dry the sink thoroughly afterwards. If you let them stick around, they’ll cause rust.  

If you want to remove any rust stains from your products, we recommend using a cleaning agent containing oxalic acid (e.g. Bar Keepers Friend®). Always use mild, non-abrasive cleaning agents such as Franke Stainless Steel Sink Cleaner to remove stubborn stains from your stainless steel and make sure you thoroughly rinse away any cleaning liquids once finished. Oh, one more thing, when cleaning your stainless steel, NEVER USE STEEL WOOL PADS. We, and our stainless steel, thank you in advance.

We would point out that unless the particles are completely removed they will return. It is therefore very important that after cleaning the sink, it is dried thoroughly - a Microfiber Cloth is ideal. This process needs to continue until the problem disappears. The problem is sometimes particularly obstinate to remove and it may take several attempts to restore the sink to its pristine condition.

Discoloration and most marks on stainless steel are caused by water-borne deposits clinging to its surface. One of the best ways to keep your stainless steel sink in pristine condition is to clean it with a product such as Franke Stainless Steel Cleaner.

Advanced materials technology makes granite a very tough and resilient self colour silica resin.

By following our simple care and maintenance guidelines, your sink will bring lasting colour to your kitchen throughout a lifetime of normal usage.

Everyday tips

For everyday cleaning of your fireclay sink, using a soft cloth or sponge with some mild liquid soap or any vinegar-based cleaner is ideal.

Stubborn stains

In rare cases, metal objects like forks and knives may leave stains on ceramic surfaces if left for long periods of time. To get rid of this type of stain you can use the same sort of cleaners made for glass and ceramic cooktops. These can usually be found at your local appliance or hardware store.

What to avoid

• Scouring liquid or scouring powder
• Highly concentrated drain cleaners
• Cleaners for faucet fittings and steel

Contact our service agents - click here for more information.

• Refer to the installation instructions enclosed with your faucet. You can download a PDF of the instructions here.
• Use only a soft cloth and mild detergent.  
  
• Clean using hot soapy water.
  
• Avoid using scourers or abrasive materials.
  
• Never apply abrasive detergents, disinfectants or products containing alcohol, hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid.

Click here to view full Franke Warranty

To enable us to process a guarantee claim, please ensure you provide us with the following information to avoid any unnecessary delay:

• Full Contact Name, Address and Telephone Number
• Proof of Purchase (please attach to email)
• Photographs showing full product and detail shots showing problem

Please complete the relevant form with this information here. 

Simply click the Find a Partner link shown on each page of our website. Before visiting however, please contact the retailer to check availability of the product.

Contact our service agents. 

PVD means Physical Vapour Deposition. This is an industrial process that provides a very resilient and robust finish to the faucet, giving it a coating-like appearance.

Franke faucets are designed to complement Franke sinks, and not necessarily match exactly. Satin Nickel taps will complement brushed finish appliances such as an oven and hob in your kitchen. Franke stainless steel taps such as the Eos, Steel and Kubus will be a very close match to a stainless steel sink.

Most Franke faucets require the industry standard taphole cut out size of  1  3/8" (35 mm) diameter. There are several exceptions to this as follows:

• Franke Little Butlers - requires 1 x 1  1/4" (31.75 mm) diameter hole
  
• Soap Dispenser - requires 1 x 1  1/8" (20 mm) diameter hole

You can easily obtain additional or replacement accessories for your Franke sink, simply click here. 

All-In is the flexible food preparation system for any kitchen sink (up to 21 1/4"). Transforming your sink into a stylish and playful workstation, All-In is the flexible food preparation system designed to bring more flow to your kitchen and life.

Well-equipped and intuitive, this modular accessory system has all you need to prepare meals with ease; saving you time and space and allowing you to shift seamlessly between different tasks.

For more information on Franke All-In Accessories click here. 

You may wish to add water to thicker concentrated liquid soaps, in a 1/3 water to 2/3 ratio to reduce the possibility of clogging. Regular cleaning of the soap dispenser is also recommended.

You should avoid anti-bacterial soaps, as these can cause corrosion of your dispenser over time. 

The answer is definitely YES. A properly sized septic tank can easily accommodate the use of a disposer. Septic systems designed to accommodate a dishwasher or clothes washer can also accommodate a disposer. On a daily basis, and on average, a household food waste disposer uses an amount of water equal to one flush of a toilet.

Just the opposite, in fact. Decades of independent international research has shown that using a disposer is the safest, easiest and most environmentally responsible way to dispose of biodegradable food waste. Disposers significantly help reduce landfills and, in fact, disposer food waste has been recycled to form fertilizer in some parts of the country.

A Batch Feed model is activated by loading the chamber and rotating the waste disposer plug. Continous Feed models are operated by an Air Switch (or alternative) and waste is fed through the open neck of the unit. In both cases, a continuous supply of water is necessary whilst the waste disposer is in use. 

For information on our Franke warranty, please see our Warranty page. 

To enable us to process a guarantee claim, please ensure you provide us with the following information to avoid any unnecessary delay:

• Full Contact Name, Address and Telephone Number
• Proof of Purchase (please attach to email)
• Photographs showing full product and detail shots showing problem

Please complete the relevant form with this information here. 

Please contact our office by email ks-marketingservices.us@franke.com 

Go to the Brochure page on this site. 

Contact our service agents for more information.

Please contact us directly using our Contact Form.